Giants

Def/Spec Team

Jenkins has played well through six games after signing a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the Giants over the offseason. The bigger picture hasn’t been as bright for the Giants’ defense however, as the team is last among NFL defenses in sacks and takeaways on the season after spending big money on free agent defenders. The Giants D/ST is a mid-tier fantasy option against the Rams in London this week.

The Giants are one of two teams without an interception on the season, along with the New Orleans Saints. The Giants D/ST has turned in two sub-par performances in three weeks, and now has CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) and CB Eli Apple (hamstring) nursing injuries. New York plays on Monday night in Week 4, where the Giants D/ST will be a mid-tier option at Minnesota.

This follows a trend of defenses limiting Wentz to shorter passing options in recent weeks, with the rookie completing just one pass over 30 yards in his last 230 snaps. “He’s not making the average rookie mistakes that most guys make, but you definitely can disguise it a little bit and kinda get him off rhythm and bait him into throwing some [vulnerable] things,” Giants CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. The Giants D/ST turned in a solid Week 8 performance before a Week 9 bye, and will be a mid-tier fantasy option at home against Philadelphia.

The Giants have been solid on the defensive side of the ball in 2016, but have failed to take the ball away from their opponent. “That’s one thing we need to have start showing up in these games,” linebacker Jonathan Casillas said. Washington will visit MetLife Stadium in Week 4, where the Giants D/ST will be a top-12 fantasy option at home against the Redskins.

Pierre-Paul has not practiced this week, but insisted that he will be playing in Week 12. “I’m playing on Sunday. I already said it last week. I’ll be out there Sunday,” said the Giants defensive end, who had four tackles and 2.5 sacks in Week 11. The Giants D/ST will be a top-tier streaming option in Week 12 against Cleveland, who surrendered eight sacks to Pittsburgh in Week 11. The Giants D/ST is owned in 57 percent of Yahoo leagues.

This development will be a blow to the Giants’ pass rush that had shown improvement with 18 sacks since a Week 8 bye. JPP chipped in with 5.5 sacks in Weeks 11 and 12 before suffering the injury during the first half in Week 13, and his only hope for a potential return is if the Giants roll to the NFC Championship game. Romeo Okwara and Kerry Wynn filled-in after Pierre-Paul’s departure. The Giants D/ST will not be an advisable fantasy start on Sunday night at home against Dallas.

The stingy red zone defense has helped the Giants allow a league-low 24 offensive touchdowns in 2016, compared to 46 in 2015. The Giants D/ST has turned in top-10 fantasy finishes in six of their last nine games but will be a dicey Week 17 fantasy option with nothing to play for in terms of postseason seeding.

The Giants have yet to hold an opposing passer under 300 yards, as they have allowed big yardage to Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and even Kirk Cousins so far this season. Week 4 brings a trip to Buffalo for the Giants, and although Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor has yet to crack the 300 yard mark in 2015, he is third among NFL quarterbacks in yards per attempt, at 9.2 yards per throw. The Giants D/ST is a low-tier fantasy option this week on the road.

The Giants D/ST unit is currently being drafted outside the top-20 fantasy defenses, and for good reason. The Giants were 29th in yards allowed per game in 2014, forking over 375.8 yards to opposing offenses each week. Not only is the Giants D/ST worth ignoring in drafts, but they will not be on the Week 1 streaming radar as a trip to Dallas is on the Week 1 schedule.

Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that the Giants D/ST may get a key weapon back earlier than anticipated, as Pierre-Paul “expects to be able to play” early in the season. The Giants D/ST won’t be an advisable start in Week 1 as they travel to Dallas, but this certainly helps the overall outlook of this fantasy defense.